Drawer latch

ABSTRACT

A drawer latch includes a controller mounted on an outer side of the drawer. A lever is pivotally mounted on an inner side of a cabinet, which contains the drawer, for selectively engaged to the controller. The lever automatically engaged to the controller to prevent the drawer from an accidentally operated when the drawer is closed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a drawer latch, and more particularly to a drawer latch that automatically locks the drawer when the drawer is closed.

2. Description of Related Art

A drawer is widely used in much furniture, such as a table, a cabinet or a wardrobe, for containing objects. The conventional drawer may have lock for locking the drawer. However, the lock usually has a complicated structure and is operated with a key such that the manufacturing cost of the drawer is raised. In addition, the drawer may not be always maintained in a locked condition. Furthermore, the conventional drawer has no automatic locking device for locking the drawer when the drawer is closed to prevent the drawer from an accidentally operation. Consequently, the conventional drawer is inconvenient to operate.

The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the disadvantages of the conventional drawer that has no automatic locking device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the present invention is to provide an improved drawer latch that automatically locks the drawer when the drawer is closed.

To achieve the objective, the drawer latch in accordance with the present invention comprises a controller mounted on an outer side of the drawer. The controller includes an axle extending through a front panel of the drawer and an enlarged head formed on one end of the axle. A resilient member is sleeved on the axle and having a first end fixed on the axle. A fixing plate is secured on the outer side of the drawer and corresponds to the axle. The fixing plate has a connecting portion and an engaging portion respectively extending therefrom. A through hole is defined in the connecting portion to allow the axle extending through the connecting portion and a second end of the resilient member abuts the connecting portion. A lever is reciprocally and pivotally mounted on an inner side of a cabinet, which contains the drawer, for selectively engaged to the controller. The lever has a shank with a first end pivotally mounted to the inner side of the cabinet and corresponding to the fixing plate. The shank has a second end formed with an inclined side and a hook. A free end of the axle abuts the inclined side and the hook is engaged to the engaging portion to prevent the drawer from an accidentally operation when the drawer is closed.

Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a drawer latch in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the drawer latch in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional top plan view of the controller of the drawer latch of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional top plan view of the controller of the drawer latch of the present invention when the shaft of the controller is inward pushed;

FIG. 5 is an operational view of the drawer latch of the present invention when the drawer is closed;

FIG. 6 is a first operational view of the drawer latch of the present invention when opening the drawer;

FIG. 7 is a second operational view of the drawer latch of the present invention when opening the drawer; and

FIG. 8 is an operational view of the drawer latch of the present invention when closing the drawer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, multiple drawers (30) are slidably mounted in a cabinet (40). The cabinet (40) has an opening (41) defined therein for user to pull out the drawers (30). The cabinet (40) has two inner sides (42) respectively corresponding to two outer sides (31) of each of the drawers (30).

A drawer latch in accordance with the present invention comprises at least one controller (10) mounted on at least one of the two outer sides (31) of each of the drawers (30). At least one lever (20) is pivotally mounted on at least one of the two inner sides (42) for selectively engaged to the at least one controller (10). The lever (20) automatically engaged to the controller (10) to prevent the drawer (30) from an accidentally operated when the drawer (30) is closed.

With reference to FIGS. 1-4, the controller (10) includes an axle (12) extending through a front panel of the drawer (30) via a through hole (301) that is defined in the front panel of the drawer (30) and an enlarged head (11) formed on one end of the axle (12). The through hole (301) has a diameter smaller than that of the enlarged head (11). An annular groove (121) is defined in an outer periphery of the axle (12) near the enlarged head (11). A resilient member (13) is sleeved on and fixed on the axle (12). In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the resilient member (13) is a cone-shaped spring having a first end (131) and a second end (132). The first end (131) of the resilient member (13) has diameter smaller than that of the second end (132) of the resilient member (13). The first end (131) of the resilient member (13) is engaged to the annular groove (121) in the axle (12).

A fixing plate (14) is secured on one of the two outer sides of the drawer (30) and corresponding to the axle (12) and the lever (20). The fixing plate (14) has a connecting portion (141) and an engaging portion (143) respectively extending therefrom. The fixing plate (14) and the connecting portion (141) form an L-shape. A through hole (142) is defined in the connecting portion (141) to allow the axle (12) extending through the connecting portion (141) and the second end (132) of the resilient member (13) abuts the connecting portion (141). In addition, the diameter of the first end (131) of the resilient member (13) is greater than that of the through hole (301) in the front panel of the drawer (30) such that the axle (12) would not be detached from the front panel of the drawer (30) without extra locking member due to the first end (131) of the resilient member (13).

The lever (20) has a shank (21) with a first end pivotally mounted to the inner side (42) of the cabinet (40) and corresponding to the fixing plate (14). A torsion spring (22) is mounted between the shank (21) and the inner side of the cabinet (40). The torsion spring (22) has a first end abutting against a stopper (421) that extends from the inner side (42) of the cabinet (40) and a second end abutting against the shank (21) for providing a restitution force to the lever (20). The shank (21) has a second end formed with an inclined side (23) and a hook (24). A free end of the axle (12) abuts the inclined side (23) and the hook (24) is engaged to the engaging portion (143) to prevent the drawer from accidentally opening when the drawer (30) is closed.

With reference to FIGS. 5-8, when opening the drawer (30), the controller (10) is inward pushed and the free end of the axle (12) upwardly pushes the lever (20) due to the inclined side (23). The user can easily open the drawer (30) when the lever (20) is upwardly lifted and the hook (24) is disengaged from the engaging portion (143) of the fixing plate (14). In addition, the hook (24) of the lever (20) automatically engaged to the engaging portion (143) for locking the drawer (30) when the drawer is closed.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 

1. A drawer latch comprising: a controller adapted to be mounted on an outer side of a drawer, the controller including an axle extending through a front panel of the drawer and an enlarged head formed on one end of the axle, a resilient member sleeved on the axle and having a first end fixed on the axle, a fixing plate adapted to be secured on the outer side of the drawer and corresponding to the axle, the fixing plate having a connecting portion and an engaging portion respectively extending therefrom, a through hole defined in the connecting portion to allow the axle extending through the connecting portion and a second end of the resilient member abutting the connecting portion; and a lever adapted to be reciprocally and pivotally mounted on an inner side of a cabinet, which contains the drawer, for selectively engaged to the controller, the lever having a shank with a first end pivotally mounted to the inner side of the cabinet and corresponding to the fixing plate, the shank having a second end formed with an inclined side and a hook, a free end of the axle abutting the inclined side and the hook engaged to the engaging portion to prevent the drawer from an accidentally operation when the drawer is closed.
 2. The drawer latch as claimed in claim 1, wherein an annular groove is defined in an outer periphery of the axle near the enlarged head and the resilient member is a cone-shaped spring having a first end and a second end, the first end of the resilient member has diameter smaller than that of the second end of the resilient member, the first end of the resilient member engaged to the annular groove in the axle for holding the resilient in place and the second end of the resilient abutting the connecting portion of the fixing plate.
 3. The drawer latch as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fixing plate and the connecting portion form an L-shape.
 4. The drawer latch as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a torsion spring mounted between the shank and the inner side of the cabinet, the torsion spring having a first end adapted to abut against a stopper that extends from the inner side of the cabinet and a second end abutting against the shank for providing a restitution force to the lever. 